ZELLY AND ME

US, 1988, 87 minutes, Colour.
Isabella Rossellini, Alexandra Johnes, Glynnis Johns, David Lynch, Joe Morton.

Zelly and Me is small kind gentle film, something like a miniature. Filmed in Virginia, it focuses on a little girl, and orphan, her devotion to her nurse, her confrontations with her possessive and discipline grandmother. Alexandra Johns is the small girl, Phoebe, caught up in the vision of Madame Zielie (Zelly) and the stories of Joan of Arc and her inner voices, her persecution and her heroism. The children at school are severe with her, so is her grandmother.

Zelly is played attractively by Isabella Rosselini (reminding us that her mother, Ingrid Bergman, played Joan of Arc). Glynis Johns is Coco, the grandmother. David Lynch also appears as Willy, seemingly the son of gentry in Virginia but in fact a servant. Lynch is extraordinarily gentle when one thinks of his screenplays for Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart and Twin Peaks. Joe Morton appears as the gardener.

The film was written and directed by Tina Rathborne and shows a very strong feminine sensibility.

1. An attractive story of a child, family love, fear, inner voices?

2. The Virginian settings, the city, the countryside, the mansions? the gardens, the atmosphere of affluence? The gentle musical score?

3. The title, Phoebe's perspective, her relationship to Mademoiselle, the nickname Zelly? The influence of Zelly on Phoebe?

4. The portrait of Phoebe: at school, alone, the children wanting to be friends, to come over, the hold of her grandmother and her refusal? The children severe on her in the bus, the boys attacking her and almost breaking her record of Joan of Arc? Her listening to Mademoiselle's voices and the story of Joan of Arc, the inspiration of Joan of Arc? Getting home, the gentleness of the house, her relationship with the gardener and his kindness, the dog? With Mademoiselle and wanting her to be at home, not go out? With her grandmother and her grandmother's gift? everything seemingly happy? Her toys, her dolls? Preferring Mademoiselle's gifts rather than her grandmother's? The dog and its hunting the bird, the grandmother tying the bird around the dog's neck and Phoebe upset? Her not using her grandmothers toy? Her grandmother's severity, Phoebe's reactions, her grandmother demanding apologies, on her knees? Her giving the apology? Her Love for Mademoiselle, sharing, Joan of Arc stories? Telling Mademoiselle what happened with her grandmother? Her grandmother's further severity and the hurt? Showing her the room that was hers, her parents, promising the room? Then isolating her? Forbidding her the toys? Phoebe going to Zelly, sleeping quietly in the room, the disappointment when Zelly was not there? The possibility of going with Zelly - in the taxi, the talk, not wanting to go, changing her mind Zelly deciding to take her back, the police waiting, her grandmother being severe, her going back inside? Her grandmother's harsh treatment - but her going to school the next day? Her own inner strength - and how this would sustain her? Zelly's promise to come to her wedding? How convincing portrait of a little girl, learning about love and hatred?

5. Mademoiselle, her French background, care for Phoebe, intimidated by the grandmother, trying to do her job, meals, caring for the little girl, the toys? Her own life - her love for Willy, assuming that he was the son of the house? Wanting to go away but returning? Her being sacked by Coco? Her pleading for Phoebe? Her going to Willy, telling him the story, the night together, being loved? Willy having to do his work? The decision to take Phoebe, the taxi, the talk, taking her back? The police treatment, Coco having to let her go? The return to Willy, discovering the truth about him? Phoebe gift of the posy, the money from Willy - and her future?

6. Coco, the strong women, her children killed in the plane crash, caring for Phoebe, wanting to love her, giving her gifts, but her discipline, severity, the prima donna approach? Wanting apologies? Dismissing Mademoiselle? Wanting her arrested? The severity with Phoebe in the new room? Would she be able to demonstrate her love for her grandchild? Her not being able to listen to Mademoiselle's advice?

7. The gardener, the maid - their work in the house, dependant on Coco? Earl and the news of the birth of his child? His care for Phoebe, dismissed by Coco? The incident with the dog and the bird to be tied around its neck?

8. Willy, dreamlike, loving Mademoiselle, the evening with her, listening, loving, having to do his work - and unable to tell her the truth? Giving her the money? Seeing him as the servant?

9. The children in the bus, their cruelty to one another, the attitude of the bus driver?

10. Going into a small world? Looking at the characters, their motivations, interactions? Authentic, insightful?